Comments on: Whiptips: What are your hot selling craft fair items?

By: supersub

supersub — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:45:07 +0000

I have a blog about recycling and crafts. I live in the UK and I’m wondering how easy it is to sell crafts online. There seems to be heaps of people on ebay. Any comments on my makes are welcome.

By: MrsDoF

MrsDoF — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:10:46 +0000

I came over here as recommended by Fun Quilts, and now you are in my computer Bookmarks.

I have a blog post at

MrsDoF’s Dear Ones 3/12/06

about some crocheted potholders which sold out at $3 each for our church Relief Sale. They need to be worked in cotton, however. Next to my pile was another done in acrylic by someone else, but a good number of those were left at half-price time.
Machine quilted potholders also went very quickly, at $3.50 each.

Another item I crochet which gets good response is

treasure bag

I usually give these as a gift myself, full of candy or other small items.
One year, for the Relief Sale, I crocheted a dozen drawstringers, placed them in plastic bags, and sold them, empty, for $3 each.
There were requests for more, but at an hour and a half of work made them not quite worthwhile. Next time, I’ll probably raise the price.

These lacy items (which take a bit of time) sell well at $3 to $5 apiece
Christmas bookmarks

As someone above already mentioned, the items should be small enough to carry around at a festival, and cheap enough to be a gift or impulse purchase.

By: squirrel bait

squirrel bait — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 04:14:24 +0000

Here’s a HOT tip I’ll part with since I’m not doing any more craft shows. And yes, crafters don’t want to part with their secrets because who wants to see 20 other crafters show up at their next show with identical items?

I made fleece scarves for kids, and at three Oct/Nov shows they sold out before the show ended. Mine were snakes, with a snake face on one end and a fringed/pony bead tail on the other. (Martha Stewart did something similar on her website around Christmas time with a kitty cat scarf.) Mine were very simple, 2 contrasting layers of fleece just 5-6 in. wide x 1 yd long, with the edges topstitched and pinked. I added safety-eyes, bead nostrils, and a fleece tongue. The mouth was formed from V-notching the sides of the scarf at the head end and folding it onto itself to form a loop that the tail passed through, so the scarf did not need to be tied. They didn’t cost much to make, as you can get 3 from one yd of fabric (I snapped up fleece remnants in the spring/summer). It took appx 15 minutes to put one together, and I charged $15. You could do all kinds of animals (or anything with a face!) and get fancy with tails, paws and more. Many people commented that they liked the fact that they were snakes, so try making something atypical, because you see a LOT of teddy bears at craft shows. Maybe a bug!

By: Stacie

Stacie — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 01:22:24 +0000

I have been selling my handmade goods at crafts sales for 5 or 6 years and at Farmers’ Markets for two. I have built up an interesting collection of innovative crafts which my regular customers have come to know me for and that people passing through find unique enough to have to buy as they have never seen them before. I often have a ton of stuff on my tables, displayed tastefully and uniquely, hanging, and sitting in different containers. I find that if I have a balanced blend of expensive, medium priced, and inexpensively priced items, I sell equal amounts of each and end up with a pretty good average total from all of them. The key is to have good quality items that are very unique and to display them attractively. If you are just starting out try making a couple things first and wearing them out and about or giving them to friends as gifts and see what kind of feedback and compliments you get. Try making small batches of things and seeing how they sell. If you sell out, make more, and if it bombs, try something different. It also depends on what kind of audience you are selling to. I hope that helps.

By: Jo

Jo — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:12:15 +0000

I think it is difficult to predict what will sell on the day but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider your market and setting.

Consider whether they’re primarily there for the stalls, or for another event, like the concert setting mentioned. I’ve done a couple of events where the stalls weren’t the main attraction, and I find it’s more difficult to sell than at dedicated fairs. Your buyers may have money in their pockets, but most of it will probably go on food and drink or cds and concert t shirts or badges if they’re available. If they’ve also spent a lot on the ticket, it’s more likely that they’ll get smaller, cheaper items. Also consider whether they would want to carry items round with them if they’re doing something else. If they can buy something and put it on straight away, then its easier.

By: shannon

shannon — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:05:59 +0000

thank you everyone for your advice, it is greatly appreciated!

By: Miriam

Miriam — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 07:06:11 +0000

At craft fairs I’ve done, I’ve found that if I priced “things for girls” at prices the girls can afford to pay *themselves* then they sell really well. E.g. pairs of hairclips for a couple of dollars, stretchy-cord+bead bracelet kits.
Make things that are quick and easy and cheap, you can sell things like (for example) glass marble magnets because people will usually not mind spending a couple of $ of loose change for one or two.
Bigger items that are more time-intensive to make and therefore more expensive to buy may not sell so well unless you’re at a venue/event that will attract buyers with deeper pockets ;-)

By: joybucket

joybucket — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 03:44:56 +0000

I did a craftshow last Spring. I knew my audience was Midwestern middle-aged women = not going to spend the big bucks. I made about a 100 flower hairpins (I sold over half. See my tutorial here:) I priced them very low at $4 a pair. I had a folding screen to display a wall of them. I also had 4 totes at $25 (2 sold) and 2 totes at $45 (both sold and I got orders for 3 more). I made about 50 marble magnets and almost all of those sold.I think price point is huge. If someone can walk away with a quality handcrafted item for under $10 they will especially if they can give it as a gift. I think it would have been a whole other story if I had gone with only my dolls. I would have been laughed. They just wouldn't have understood why they cost what they do.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:30:09 +0000

It’s a total crap shoot. My shrinky dink jewlery sold pretty well at the craft shows I’ve put it in. But my recycled wool hats, kids clothing, ornaments, and note cards have not. I think people are mostly looking for gifts rather than things for themselves so things that lend themselves to office gift pools work well.

By: jixichick

jixichick — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:00:30 +0000

I’m doing my first craft fair this fall with a friend of mine. I’m very anxious to hear what other people have experienced as well. The “theme” of our booth will be baby and children’s items – she makes hairbows and knits hats and I make a little diaper roll up and embellished baby t-shirts. Would love to see any other ideas for great stuff to make to sell for children (I like the idea of the puppets and aprons).